UFC 140: 5 Reasons It's Too Soon for Jon Jones to Move to Heavyweight

His massive frame and destructive tendencies at 205 lbs pegs champion Jon Jones as a guy on the move to the heavyweight division over the past year or so. While he makes no qualms about the probability of it happening, there are also plenty of reasons it’s too early for such a move.

Here are five reasons why.

He Makes 205 Easily

By all accounts, the lanky Jones has little problem getting down to 205. That, as much as any reason, supports staying in the division a while longer.

If he was gaunt and emaciated at weigh-ins, or looked visibly sapped of stamina on fight night, people would consider him more poised to spend his time as a heavyweight. As it stands now, he’s rumoured to be in shape at around 220lbs, making for an easy cut and a decided physical advantage in most of his fights.

Why give that up?

Rashad Evans

Everyone knows the story: Evans gets hurt before his title shot, Jones takes the fight in his place, wins the title and the two begin to feud over various statements and actions.

Over the past year it’s gotten so outlandish that there is no way Jon Jones can leave 205 without seeing who’s the better man between he and his friend-turned-nemesis.

Evans is a fight away from a title shot, and if he can beat Phil Davis in January he’ll get his shot at Jones. It’s an interesting fight, and one the world can’t wait to see. Were Jones to move up in weight before it happened, he would be robbing the MMA world of one of its greatest payoffs.

He Hasn’t Cleaned out His Division

The biggest reason on the list is definitely the fact that he hasn’t cleaned out his division.

While he’s looked dominant in wins over big names like Ryan Bader, Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, and Lyoto Machida, there are still challenges left.

Everyone wants to see him fight Evans—the spurned former teammate who claims to hold the key to solving Jones’ puzzle.

Phil Davis, another ranger-wrestling prodigy, could be interesting.

Dan Henderson, the 41-year-old Greco-Roman specialist who is somehow hitting his peak when most athletes are barely hanging on, is a guy people think could topple the champion.

There are still challenges at 205, so it’s still a little early for Jones to bolt just yet.

The Challenges of Heavyweight Aren’t Going Anywhere

The toughest guys in the heavyweight division are—by all accounts—champion Junior dos Santos and former top dog Cain Velasquez. Neither man is 30 yet.

For that reason, there shouldn’t be any great hurry for Jones to make the jump to fight these guys, especially when he’d probably still give up size to them at this point in his career.

At 24, Jon Jones’ body isn’t what it will be in a few years. He’d likely want to compete in the 235-pound ballpark if he was serious about contending, so taking the time to put on muscle and grow into his frame makes the most sense.

When he’s past his mid-20s, both dos Santos and Velasquez will be in the middle of their prime, and those fights could become the biggest in heavyweight MMA history.

Light Heavyweight Could Use the Stability He’s Provided

Not since Chuck Liddell was in his prime has a man looked so dominant at 205, and given Dana White’s penchant for calling it the marquee division in the sport, some stability isn’t a bad thing.

Sure, people like a little unpredictability. MMA gives them that, as closely-matched guys can often upset one another on any given night.

However, one thing that people like even more is the would-be invincible champion who goes through challengers like nobody’s business.

Liddell had it, and going back further and into the days of boxing relevance, so did Mike Tyson. He was a guy that people just loved to watch create carnage. While Jones’ draw is as much that people want to see him get beaten up and lose as they want to seem him demolish competition, he’s a draw no matter how you slice it.

After going through seven champions since 2007, the division could use that.